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Scotty James wins halfpipe World Cup event

3 minute read

The Australian continued his electric form from last season by taking out a gold medal earned from his first run of the day.

Olympic snowboarder SCOTTY JAMES..
Olympic snowboarder SCOTTY JAMES.. Picture: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Three-time snowboarding world champion Scotty James has started off the northern hemisphere season in much the same way as he completed the last - with a resounding win.

The Melbourne halfpipe rider, who won every major event in 2018/19, took out the US Open Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colorado this morning.

It marked consecutive wins at the event for the 25 year-old.

The three-time Winter Olympian led the field with a 96 point first run in challenging snow and flat light and held that advantage for the rest of the event with a simple victory lap on his third and final run.

"I definitely put some added pressure on myself after last year with some big expectations" said James, who recently took out the Australian Institute of Sport male athlete of the year award.

"I had to iron those emotions over and just come out with a clear head and approach it as a new season. The elements weren't in our favour today but everyone rode really well and I knew they were going to, so I had to bring it today."

Yuto Totsuka (JPN) took silver with 94.5 and Ruka Hirano (JPN) took bronze with 89.25.

James, the bronze medallist in the halfpipe at last year's Winter Olympics, will now travel to Secret Garden in China for the next FIS World Cup on December 20 to 22.

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